Develop an action plan that can be implemented by federal agencies (FDA, USDA-FSIS, CDC), state and local regulators, the food industry, consumer advocacy organizations, and public health organizations to improve recall execution and consumer communications to protect public health.
RESEARCHING RECALL COMMUNICATIONS
examining consumer and industry responses to develop recall notification language which is clear and actionable.
FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEEDBACK AND COLLABORATION
between STOP constituents, industry partners, and policy makers to address federal recall language and systematic modernization.
LAUNCHING A ROOT CAUSE DATABASE
to share learnings across the industry and help companies prepare for and prevent potential issues.
PUBLISHING COMMENTARY FROM THOUGHT LEADERS
including a white paper outlining issues and next steps for recall modernization.
To learn more about policy-related initiatives of Stop Foodborne Illness, visit our Policy Work page.
The Team
Rutgers University
William K. Hallman, PhD
Kathering Ognyanova, PhD
Stop Foodborne Illness
Thanks to the generous support of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) and an anonymous donor, we have raised 13% of our total funding goal.
We are actively seeking additional supporters for this work. If you or your organization would like to contribute, contact Vanessa Coffman today.
Project Goal and Summary
Our goal is to create templates for communicating essential information to consumers about recalls, market withdrawals, and public health alerts that work in the current communications environment.
Research will occur in three phases. Phase One will be a needs assessment including key-informant interviews, focus groups, and surveys with stakeholders. Phase Two will be the development of new written templates based on the learnings from Phase One and feedback from FDA/USDA, journalists, and consumer organizations. Finally, Phase Three will be the testing of the new templates across multiple media outlets, including press releases, Facebook, and Google.
Project Objectives
We will create templates written in “plain language” that are harmonized across the FDA and USDA, meeting any specific agency requirements, which can be tailored to incidents involving pathogens, allergens, chemical contamination, or foreign objects. Templates are needed that are appropriate for initial recalls and that are appropriate for a “rolling recall,” involving additional products over time.
These templates must meet the needs of consumers to receive timely notifications of recalls, easily recognize that they may have purchased, consumed, or own an affected product, and have ready access to key information necessary to identify affected products and to distinguish these from products that are not affected. The recall communications must also help consumers understand what to do if they find an affected product, have consumed an affected product, believe they have been made ill by an affected product, or are seeking additional information.
The information captured in the templates must be easily distributed through press releases, social media platforms, RSS feeds, emails, text messages, point-of-sale terminals, robocalls, local radio, and short videos. To do this, the templates must be structured to facilitate easy extraction of key information (e.g., data, metadata, formatted photos) by responsible third-party amplifiers of recall notifications (i.e., media, producers, distributers, and retailers, consumer organizations, and non-profit food distribution entities such as food banks and emergency feeding programs).
Finally, the templates should be readily translated into multiple languages, beginning with Spanish, but also other languages spoken by large populations of Americans.
The Alliance convenes a working group dedicated to recall modernization at a regular cadence. The group includes industry members and partners, current and former regulators from state and federal agencies, STOP constituents, and public relations experts. In addition to these meetings, the working group has met with a team from USDA-FSIS and meets regularly with a team at FDA to facilitate discussion and collaborative efforts towards improving recall systems.
The FDA is opening the regulations on recalls. On September 29, 2023, the FDA will host a hybrid public meeting: “Modernizing Food and Drug Administration Recalls Listening Session.” Find additional details at the FDA website.
The Alliance has engaged several STOP constituents to tell their stories in person at this session. By sharing their life-altering experiences with foodborne illness, due in many cases to products later recalled, they hope to drive meaningful change as FDA updates the recall regulations.
Develop and launch an online, interactive, sustainable, and externally funded system that can compile and visually communicate these data for large and small firms.
There is no single place where firms can deposit or see root cause data trends across industry. This leads to the same mistakes and problems happening repeatedly throughout the food system and no decrease in the number of recalls. Collecting data in this manner would indicate where mitigation strategies can be identified and deployed and could help identify research gaps to be filled.
This database will collect and visualize industry data regarding food safety contamination events that result in recalls (Class I, II, or III) for collective learning, identification of mitigation strategies to prevent reoccurrence, and ultimately, a reduction human illness and injury.
The database will be anonymous, private sector to private sector to allow for collective approaches to reducing recall incidents, tacking the issues industry-wide instead of company by company.
On August 20, 2020, the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness convened a group of food safety experts (working group) to outline how food recall processes in the United States can be improved. This working group recognized that there is a need for fundamental change in food recall processes to protect consumers from harmful products and decrease the burden of foodborne illness. With as many as 500 food recalls a year impacting suppliers, retailers, food service, and consumers, the working group recommends a strategic approach to modernize the entire recall system and enhance its overall effectiveness for the consumer.
The working group benchmarked the current system and defined an effective product recall as an item rapidly identified, traced, and removed from the supply chain, commerce by downstream businesses and organizations, and ultimately, communicated to consumers. Currently, there is not a singular federal or state agency, stakeholder, or node in the food chain that controls these processes. This has been identified as a major problem, as the current recall processes of the U.S. evolved due to a patchwork of approaches based on learnings from previous recall events.
Recalls are preventable. Although industry has become more proactive and there have been advances in technology and techniques to identify issues that require a product recall, the number of annual recalls has not decreased. The working group’s philosophy is to have an action-focused plan for modernizing the U.S. food recall system; specifically, to not rely on consumers’ vigilance.
To realize significant improvements for recall effectiveness, they must be timely, coordinated, technology must be deployed appropriately, and outcomes must be consumer focused. Providing language that consumers understand and measuring whether they take appropriate action responding to recalls is essential.
The working group is focused on taking evidence-based action to identify and assess the current U.S. recall system. The existing structure depends on the consumers’ internal motivation to monitor recalled products. This deems the recall system as dysfunctional due to its reliance on consumers’ diligence to determine whether a product has been recalled.
We identified research gaps needing to be filled and evaluated the current system. This work is critical to create the political will to improve the broken aspects in the recall structure. This applied research may be used to develop better metrics and mechanisms for measuring success. There is potential to specifically create an educational framework to support the food systems and identify who is best suited to conduct this research.
These challenges, gaps, and issues need to be addressed to achieve real modernization of the recall system. This group sees the opportunity to work collaboratively with industry partners, consumer advocacy organizations, federal agencies (CDC, USDA-FSIS, FDA) and state and local regulators to attain this goal. The group is particularly interested in working jointly to meet the needs of consumers to identify effective methods of communication to limit the consumption of recalled foods.
Communication
Recall Execution
The major research gap is understanding how the consumer is receiving and reacting to information about food recalls. The following research must be conducted:
Consumer Motivations
Consumer Data Privacy and Trust
Additional Opportunities to Explore
Consumer Messaging
Consumer Tools, Technology, and Response
The release of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) New Era for Smarter Food Safety catalyzed discussions among the working group.
In this blueprint, the FDA has stated the way the Agency addresses recalls should be modernized.
The working group recognizes that Core Element 2.6: Recall Modernization calls for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and FDA to harmonize communications of recall information and develop guidance documents on notification processes for consumers.
The following opportunity areas directly align and support multiple topics identified in FDA New Era for Smarter Food Safety- FDA’s Blueprint for the Future listed according to the Blueprint Core Element.
Element 1.1 Develop Foundational Components related to Tech Enabled Traceability
Element 1.3 Leveraging the Digital Transformation
Element 2.3 Domestic Mutual Reliance
Element 2.6 Recall Modernization
The blueprint encouraged the use of register lockdowns. This is a widely used practice at the point of sale. The action blocks sale of any product sharing the same SKU. Lot specific blocking is not currently supported. This is often one of the first steps in recall execution and happens within minutes to hours of recall notification from suppliers. FDA and FSIS should work with the food industry and support commonly adopted practices.
Additionally, there are opportunity areas that fall outside the scope or are not directly addressed in the New Era for Smarter Food Safety- FDA’s Blueprint for the Future.
The following are the top three topics for action accompanied by proposed plans to support the New Era Blueprint.
I. Conduct an evaluation of recall effectiveness (including consumer actions) across federal agencies. Standardize recall coordination and execution across federal agencies.
FDA should lead an effort to gather data specific to recall effectiveness beginning at firm decision-making through consumer actions. FDA and FSIS should develop an interagency team to discuss best practices and align on recall policies and procedures. FDA to provide leadership in developing consistency in recall management, policies, and communications across FDA, FSIS and state and local regulators. The agencies currently use different models (decentralized and centralized) and there are valuable parts of each that can be shared and implemented. Consistent policies are needed for timely recall classifications that apply across jurisdictions. This applies to recall identification and initiation as well as communications.
Who: FDA and FSIS co-lead this initiative related with significant stakeholder input.
Timeline: Evaluation begins immediately . Interagency recall modernization team begins immediately.
II. Support technology application in recall execution, management, and communications with a specific focus on SME.
FDA should continue the New Era-supported focus on collaborating on implementing new technologies to support the timely identification, tracking and tracing of food to support recall systems. FDA should be focused on helping SMEs to implement low-cost technologies and support programs that lead to education, toolkits and practical application of technology in the food systems. Integration of systems is needed for the RFR and the division recall coordinators. Toolkits for food businesses of various sizes to be created, shared and implemented.
Who: FDA leads this initiative related to the blueprint with significant stakeholder input from industry partners and service providers.
Timeline: FDA has already begun this work with the FDA New Era of Smarter Food Safety Low- or No-Cost Tech-enabled Traceability Challenge, continue through 2022.
III. Develop and implement a risk communication strategy for regulator and industry partners. Drive programs resulting in timely, accessible, and effective information to protect consumers.
Sometimes these are simple actions (changes in language used in recall notices) and some will require more complex development (policy changes across agencies and guidance to the food industry).
Who: A regulatory coalition, FDA/FSIS and outside experts in risk communication
Timeline: Evaluation of evidence-based risk communications should begin immediately with an ORISE Fellow and consumer research.
Collaboration Tools
Working groups or task forces should be established to collaborate among agencies, industry and public health organizations through meetings, forums, webinars, and research/surveys. Ideas include initiating a special project with a focus on evaluation, implementation, communication, and continuous improvement to implement changes in recall initiation and management.
Next Steps
Summary
The working group of the Alliance to STOP Foodborne Illness with external stakeholders recognizes that FDA’s New Era for Smarter Food Safety, Core Element 2.6: Recall Modernization calls for harmonization in communications of recall information to consumers for both FSIS and FDA. This document provides guidance on future research and priorities to achieve this goal and aligns with the blueprint.
KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE
Our mission:
As the voice of people affected by foodborne illness, we collaborate with partners in academia, the food industry, and government to prevent foodborne illness. We advocate for effective food safety policy and facilitate culture change to increase food safety.
Stop Foodborne Illness is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent the law allows.
Wyoming Department of Public Health
401 Hathaway Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Call 1-866-571-0944 (toll free) or (307) 777-7656
Wyoming Department of Health: Epidemiology Unit
Infectious Disease Epidemiology + Food Safety
Nevada HHS/ Division of Public and Behavioral Health
Environmental Health
4126 Technology Way 4150 Technology Way
Carson City, NV 89706 Carson City, NV 89706
http://dpbh.nv.gov/Reg/Food/Food_Establishments_Home/
Southern Nevada Health District Food Safety
https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/Health-Topics/food-safety/
Report a Foodborne Illness
https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/Health-Topics/foodborne-illness/
702-759-1300
South Dakota Department of Health
Office of Health Protection
600 E Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
605-773-4945
doh.sd.gov/food/
South Dakota Department of Agriculture
523 E Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
605-773-5425
Preventing Foodborne Illness
https://doh.sd.gov/food/prevention.aspx
Arkansas Department of Health
Office of Environmental Health
4815 West Markham Street, Slot 46
Little Rock, AR 72205
501-661-2171
www.healthy.arkansas.gov
Public Health Safety | Foodborne Disease
https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/foodborne-disease
Utah Department of Health/Report a Foodborne Illness
Cannon Health Building
288 North 1460 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
888-222-2542
Utah Association of Local Health Departments
Salt Lake County Health Department
Food Protection
Vermont Department of Health
Public Health Laboratory
108 Cherry Street, PO Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
800-439-8550
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Food Safety and Consumer Protection
116 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05620
802-828-2430
Virginia Department of Health
Food Safety
109 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804-864-7454
350 Capitol Street, Room 702
Charleston, WV 25301
304-558-2971
1 West Wilson Street
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-1865
DC Department of Health Food Safety https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/division-food
DC Department of Health Foodborne Disease Surveillance https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/foodborne-illness-surveillance
National Resources
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
FDA Center for Food Safety
888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366)
www.fda.gov
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline: 1-888-674-6854
USDA- Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS)
www.fsis.usda.gov
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
www.foodsafety.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
800-232-4636
www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/
Antibiotic Resistance Action Center
The Center for Food Safety
202-547-9359
International Food Information Council Foundation
202-296-6540
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
www.cste.org
770-458-3811
_________________________________________
Office on Women’s Health
womenshealth.gov/index.html
US National Library of Medicine
www.nlm.nih.gov/
Medline Plus
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
National Institutes of Health
www.nih.gov/
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Food and Water Safety for Travelers
https://www.iamat.org/food-and-water-safety
Puerto Rico Done
https://www.fns.usda.gov/contact/puerto-rico-department-health
Guam Dept of Health
Guam Department of Agriculture
US Virgin Islands
Connecticut Department of Public Health
Food Protection Program
410 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06134
860-509-7297
Hartford Health Department
131 Coventry Street
Hartford, CT 06112
860-757-4726 or 860-757-4729
New Haven Health Department
54 Meadow Street
New Haven, CT 06519
203-946-6999
Texas Department of State Health Services
Food Establishments Group
PO Box 149347
Austin, TX 78714
512- 834-6753
www.dshs.state.tx.us/foodestablishments/
Texas Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition
1700 N Congress, 11th Floor
Austin, TX 78701
512-463-7476
www.squaremeals.org/
http://www.squaremeals.org/FandNResources/FarmtoSchool/ToolsforSchools/FoodSafety.aspx
Texas Health Departments (by District)
www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/lhds.shtm
www.dshs.state.tx.us/regions/nonlhd.shtm
Infectious Disease Control Unit
1100 West 49th Street, Suite T801
Austin, TX 78714
512-776-7676
www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/foodborne_illness/
Austin Food Establishment Inspections
https://data.austintexas.gov/dataset/Restaurant-Inspection-Scores/ecmv-9xxi
Dallas Food Establishment Inspections
http://www2.dallascityhall.com/FoodInspection/SearchScores.cfm
Fort Worth Food Establishment Inspections
www.fortworthgov.org/applications/Health/
Houston Food Establishment Inspections
http://houston.tx.gegov.com/media/search.cfm
San Antonio Food Establishment Inspections
www.sanantonio.gov/health/Food-Establishment-Inspection.html
Tennessee Department of Health
425 5th Avenue North
Cordell Hull Building, 3rd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
615-741-3111
http://tn.gov/health
Division of Foodborne Illness
615-741-7247
Foodborne Illness Complaint Hotline
800-293-8228 (toll free)
Tennessee Restaurant Inspections
http://tn.gov/health/topic/eh-inspections
Health Departments in Tennessee by County
http://tn.gov/health/topic/localdepartments
Shelby County Health Department
814 Jefferson Avenue
Memphis, TN 38105
901-222-9243
www.shelbycountytn.gov/index.aspx?nid=1094
Metro Public Health Department of Nashville & Davidson County
311 23rd Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203
615-340-5616
www.nashville.gov/Health-Department/Environmental-Health/Food-Protection-Services.aspx
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Food Protection
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
803-898-3432
http://www.scdhec.gov/FoodSafety/
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Compliance
State Capitol /Wade Hampton Building, 5th Floor
Columbia, SC 29211
803-734-2210
http://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/consumer-protection/foodfeed-safety-compliance/
South Carolina Food Establishment Inspections
www.scdhec.gov/environment/envhealth/food/htm/inspection-rating/
Rhode Island Department of Health
Food Protection
3 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908
401-222-5960
401-272-5952 (emergency after hours)
http://www.health.ri.gov/programs/foodprotection/
Rhode Island Department of Environment
Agriculture Division
235 Promenade Street
Providence, RI 02908
401-222-2781
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/agricult/index.php
Rhode Island Food Establishment Inspections
http://www.health.ri.gov/food/
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Food Safety & Laboratory Services
2301 North Cameron Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
866-366-3723
www.agriculture.state.pa.us
Pennsylvania Department of Health
625 Forster Street, 8th Floor West
Harrisburg, PA 17120
877-PA-HEALTH
www.portal.health.state.pa.us
Pennsylvania Food Establishment Inspections
https://www.pafoodsafety.state.pa.us/web/inspection/publicinspectionsearch.aspx
Oregon Health Authority
Healthy Environments/Foodborne Illness
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 640
Portland, OR 97232
971-673-0451
public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyEnvironments/FoodSafety/Pages/index.aspx
erica.vaness@state.or.us
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Food Safety Program
635 Capitol Street NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-4720
www.oregon.gov/ODA/fsd/Pages/index.aspx
Oregon Health Departments (by County)
public.health.oregon.gov/ProviderPartnerResources/LocalHealthDepartmentResources/Pages/lhd.aspx
Multnomah County (Portland) Food Establishment Inspections
www3.multco.us/MCHealthInspect/ListSearch.aspx
Oklahoma Department of Health
Food Safety and Foodborne Diseases
1000 NE 10th Street, Room 605
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
405-271-4060
800-522-0203 (toll free)
www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Acute_Disease_Service/Disease_Information/Food_Safety_and_Foodborne_Diseases/
Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry
2800 N Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-3864
www.oda.state.ok.us/food/
Oklahoma Food Establishment Inspections
www.phin.state.ok.us/Inspections/
Ohio Department of Health
Food Safety Program
246 N High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-1390
www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/eh/foods/food2.aspx
Find Your Local Health Department (Ohio)
odhgateway.odh.ohio.gov/lhdinformationsystem/Directory/GetMyLHD
Ohio Department of Agriculture
Food Safety Division
8995 E Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
614-728-6250
www.agri.ohio.gov/foodsafety
www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/meat/meat.aspx
Columbus Public Health
Food Protection Program
240 Parsons Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-645-8191
publichealth.columbus.gov/food-protection.aspx
Columbus Food Establishment Inspections
www.decadeonline.com/main.phtml?agency=COL
Franklin County Food Establishment Inspections
www.myfcph.org/foodinspections.php
Cleveland Food Establishment Inspections
www.clevelandhealth.org/network/environment/review_inspection_report.php
Cincinnati Food Establishment Inspections
www.cincinnati-oh.gov/noncms/health/inspection/
Ohio Inspections by County
www.ohioinspections.org/category.php
North Dakota Department of Health
600 E Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505
701-328-2372
www.ndhealth.gov/disease/GI/default.aspx
North Dakota Division of Food and Lodging
www.ndhealth.gov/foodlodging
North Dakota Department of Agriculture
Meat Inspection
www.nd.gov/ndda/program/meat-inspection
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
NC Food Safety
4000 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
919-733-7366
http://www.ncfoodsafety.com/
North Carolina Department of Health
Food Protection Program
5605 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
919-707-5854
ehs.ncpublichealth.com/faf/food/index.htm
Report a Foodborne Illness
NCDPH Epidemiology
225 N McDowell Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603
919-733-3419 (24 hr access)
epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/report.html#who
North Carolina Health Department Directors (by County)
http://www.ncalhd.org/directors
Restaurant Inspections
www.wral.com/5onyourside/restaurants/page/1001540/
New York Department of Agriculture & Markets
Food Safety & Inspection
10B Airline Drive
Albany, NY 12235
518-457-4492
www.agriculture.ny.gov/FS/FSHome.html
New York Department of Health
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
800-458-1158 (toll free)
518-473-4436
www.health.ny.gov/environmental/indoors/food_safety/index.htm
New York Health Departments (by Region, District and County)
www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/doh_pub_contacts_map.htm
New York City Restaurant Inspection
www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/services/restaurant-inspection.shtml
New Mexico Environment Department
Food Program
PO Box 5469
Santa Fe, NM 87502
505-476-9102
www.nmenv.state.nm.us/fod/Food_Program
New Mexico Department of Health
1190 South Saint Francis Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87502
505-827-2613
www.health.state.nm.us
New Mexico Public Health Offices Map (by County)
http://nmhealth.org/location/public/
Albuquerque Food Inspection and Safety
www.cabq.gov/envhealth/inspections
New Jersey Department of Health
Food and Drug Safety Program
PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-826-4935
www.nj.gov/health/foodanddrugsafety/consumer.shtml
New Jersey Department of Agriculture
PO Box 330
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-588-7606
www.state.nj.us/agriculture/news/hottopics/topics070319.html
New Jersey Departments of Health (by County or Municipality)
www.nj.gov/health/lh/directory/lhdselectcounty.shtml
Rutgers University/NJ Agricultural Experiment Station
88 Lipman Drive
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
njaes.rutgers.edu/health/
New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services
Public Health Services/Food Protection
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-4589
www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp
Foodborne Illness Surveillance
29 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-5300 (24 hr)
800-852-3345, x5300 (toll free 24 hr)
www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/surveillance/food.htm
Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services
Epidemiology/Foodborne Illness
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68509
402-471-2937
dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/EPI/Pages/Foodborne.aspx
Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Consumer Protection
301 Centennial Mall South
Lincoln, NE 68509
402-471-3422
ttp://www.nda.nebraska.gov/fscp/index.html
Nebraska Health Departments (by County and Rural District)
dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/puh_oph_lhd.aspx#Websites
Omaha-Douglas County Health Department
Disease Control/Foodborne Illness
1111 South 41st Street at Pacific
Omaha, NE 68105
402-444-7214
402-444-7000 (after hours)
www.douglascountyhealth.com/disease-a-immunization/food-borne-illness
Restaurant Inspections
www.douglascountyhealth.com/food-a-drink/food-facility-ratings?rname=all&submit=Search
Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department
3140 N Street
Lincoln, NE 68510
402-441-6280
www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/health/environ/consumer/food/foodsafety.htm
Food Establishment Inspections
logisrv01.lincoln.ne.gov/health/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=EPH.Default
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Food & Consumer Safety
1400 Broadway
Helena, MT 59604
406-444-4542
www.dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/fcs/index.shtml
Montana Health Departments (by County or Tribal Agency)
www.dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/phep/countytribalhealthdepts.shtml
Montana Food Star Award Program
http://web.hhs.mt.gov/publichealth/fcs/foodstar.shtml
Montana DPHHS Food and Consumer Safety
http://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/FCSS
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102
866-628-9891 (toll free)
www.health.mo.gov/safety/foodsafety
Missouri Department of Agriculture
Food Safety
1616 Missouri Boulevard
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-4211
mda.mo.gov/connect/foodsafety.php
Kansas City Department of Healt
Food Protection Program
2400 Troost Ave, Suite 3000
Kansas City, MO 64108
816-513-6315
http://kcmo.gov/health/environmental-health-services/environmental-public-health-program/
Kansas City Food Establishment Inspections
www.inspectionsonline.us/foodsafety/mousakansascity/search.htm
St. Louis County Department of Health
Safe Food Center
www.stlouisco.com/HealthandWellness/FoodandRestaurants
St. Louis Restaurant Inspections
www.stlouisco.com/HealthandWellness/FoodandRestaurants/RestaurantInspections
Mississippi Department of Health
Food Safety, Restaurant Inspections
570 East Woodrow Wilson Drive
Jackson, MS 39216
866-458-4948
msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/43,0,377.html
Reporting a Foodborne Illness
800-556-0003
601-576-7400 (after hours/holidays)
Mississippi Public Health Laboratory
570 East Woodrow Wilson
Jackson, MS 39216
601- 576-7582
601-576-7725 (Office of Epidemiology)
msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,73.html
Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce
Consumer Protection
PO Box 1609
Jackson, MS 39215
601-359-1148
https://www.mdac.ms.gov/bureaus-departments/regulatory-services/consumer-protection/
Minnesota Department of Public Health
Food Safety
PO Box 64975
St Paul, MN 55164
651-201-5000
888-345-0823 (toll free from greater MN)
www.health.state.mn.us/foodsafety
Reporting a Suspected Foodborne Illness
877-366-3455
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/foodborne/reporting.html
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Food Safety
625 Robert Street North
St Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-201-6000
800-967-2474
www.mda.state.mn.us/food/safety
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control (IDECP)
625 N Robert Street
PO Box 64975
St Paul, MN 55164
77-676-5414 (toll free from greater MN)
877-FOOD-ILL (877-366-3) Foodborne Illness Hotline
Minneapolis Department of Health
Food Safety Program
Public Service Center
250 S 4th Street, Room 510
Minneapolis, MN 55415
612-673-2301
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/health/inspections/foodsafety
Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Food Safety
PO Box 30017
Lansing, MI 48909
800-292-3939
www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-50772—,00.html
www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_2875_31948-8257–,00.html
Michigan Department of Community Health
Bureau of Disease Control, Prevention, Epidemiology
Capitol View Building
201 Townsend Street
Lansing, MI 48913
517-373-3740
517-335-9030 (emergency after hours)
www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,4612,7-132-2945_5104—,00.html
Michigan Food Inspections
secure1.state.mi.us/misafe/Default.aspx
Kent County (Grand Rapids) Health Department
700 Fuller Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616- 632-6900
www.accesskent.com/Health/FoodServices/default.htm
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Food Protection Program
305 South Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-983-6700
617-522-3700 (emergency/after hours)
www.mass.gov/dph/fpp
Massachusetts Health Departments (by County)
www.healthguideusa.org/massachusetts_local_health_departments.htm
Massachusetts Partnership for Food Safety Education
www.mafoodsafetyeducation.info
City of Boston Department of Health
Inspectional Services Department/Health Division
1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02118
617-635-5300
www.cityofboston.gov/isd/health
Worcester Department of Public Health\
25 Meade Street
Worcester, MA 01610
508-799-8531
www.worcesterma.gov/ocm/public-health
Maryland Department of Health
Office of Food Protection; Center for Retail Food, Plan and Process Reviews
6 Saint Paul Street, Suite 1301
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-767-8400
phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OEHFP/OFPCHS/SitePages/Home.aspx
Foodborne Illness/Emerging Infections Program
phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/EIP/SitePages/Home.aspx
Baltimore City Health Department\
1001 E Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-396-4398
baltimorehealth.org/foodcontrol.html
http://health.baltimorecity.gov/environmental-health/food-facilities
Montgomery County (Germantown, Silver Spring) Department of Health
Disease Control and Epidemiology
Dennis Avenue Health Center
2000 Dennis Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20902
240-777-1755
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/Program.aspx?id=PHS/PHSDControl-p270.html
Howard County (Columbia) Department of Health
Food Protection Program
7178 Columbia Gateway Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
410-313-1772
866-313-6300 (toll free 24/7 access)
www.howardcountymd.gov/DisplayPrimary.aspx?id=4294969400
Food Establishment Inspection Program
howard.envhealth.info/
Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Environmental Health
221 State Street
Augusta, ME 04333
207-287-8016
www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/el/postings.htm
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention
286 Water Street, State House Station 11
Augusta, ME 04333
800-606-0215
www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/food_safety_in_maine.html
Report a Foodborne Illness
800-821-5821 (24 hr access)
Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources
www.maine.gov/agriculture/qar/index.html
University of Maine Food Safety Program
5741 Libby Hall
Orono, ME 04469
207-581-3188
extension.umaine.edu/food-health/food-safety/
Portland Health & Human Services
389 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101
207-874-8633
http://www.portlandmaine.gov/610/Food-Safety
Portland Restaurant Inspections
www.pressherald.com/special/portland_maine_restaurant_inspection_report.html
Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals
Food and Drug Unit
PO Box 629
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0629
225-342-9500
dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/300
Louisiana Community Health Units (by Parish)
www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/394
Reporting Foodborne/Waterborne Disease
1450 Poydras Street, Suite 2146
New Orleans, LA 70112
504-568-8316
www.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/535
Louisiana Restaurant Inspections
inspections.eatsafe.la.gov/default.aspx
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Food Quality
PO Box 1951
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
225-925-3772
http://www.ldaf.state.la.us/food-safety/
New Orleans Health Department
1300 Perdido Street, Suite 8E18
New Orleans, LA 70112
311
www.nola.gov/health-department/
Kentucky Department Public Health
Cabinet for Health and Family Services
275 E Main Street, 1E-B
Frankfort, KY 40621
502-564-7181
www.chfs.ky.gov/dph/info/phps/food.htm
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Consumer & Environmental Protection
107 Corporate Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-573-0282
www.kyagr.com/consumer/division-of-food-distribution.html
Louisville Health and Wellness
400 East Gray Street
Louisville, KY 40202
502-574-6520
http://louisvilleky.gov/government/health-wellness/food-safety
Restaurant Inspections
http://portal.louisvilleky.gov/applications/RestaurantInspectionScores
Lexington-Fayette County Health Department
Environmental Health
804A Newtown Circle
Lexington, KY 40511
859-231-9791
www.lexingtonhealthdepartment.org/ProgramsServices/FoodProtection/tabid/200/Default.aspx
Barren River District (Bowling Green) Health Department
1109 State Street
Bowling Green, KY 42102
270-781-8039
270-202-5785 (24 hr access)
www.barrenriverhealth.org/mx/hm.asp?id=RestaurantScores
Kansas Department of Agriculture
Food Safety
109 SW Ninth Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612
785-296-3556
https://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/food-safety-lodging
Kansas Restaurant Inspections
https://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/food-safety-lodging/inspection-results
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Curtis State Office Building
1000 SW Jackson
Topeka, Kansas 66612
785-296-1500
www.kdheks.gov/epi/foodborne.htm
Sedgwick County (Wichita) Health Department
1900 E Ninth Street
Wichita, KS 67214
316-660-7300
www.sedgwickcounty.org/healthdept/
Report a Foodborne Illness
316-660-5555 (24 hr access)
Johnson County (Overland Park) Health Department
http://www.jocogov.org/health
Wyandotte County (Kansas City) Health Department
619 Ann Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-321-4803
www.wycokck.org/dept.aspx?id=488
Iowa Department of Public Health
Bureau of Environmental Health
321 E 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-7689
www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/food_safety.asp
Iowa Food System Council
www.iowafoodsystemscouncil.org
Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE)
www.idph.state.ia.us/Cade/Foodborne.aspx
Iowa State University Food Safety Project
www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety/
Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals
Food and Consumer Safety Bureau
www.state.ia.us/government/dia/page3.html
Polk County (Des Moines) Health Department
1907 Carpenter Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50314
515-286-3798
ms.polkcountyiowa.gov/health/
Linn County (Cedar Rapids) Health Department
935 2nd Street SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
319-892-5000
http://ia-linncounty.civicplus.com/603/Food-Safety
Scott County (Davenport) Health Department
Food Protection Program
600 W Fourth Street
Davenport, Iowa 52801
563-326-8618
www.scottcountyiowa.com/health/food.php
Indiana Department of Health
Food Protection
100 North Senate Avenue, N855
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-234-8569
www.in.gov/isdh/20640.htm
Indiana Food Protection (by County)
www.in.gov/isdh/23962.htm
Report a Complaint to the Health Department
www.in.gov/isdh/20887.htm
Indiana Food Defense Program
317-233-8476
www.in.gov/isdh/20994.htm
Marion County (Indianapolis area) Department of Food Safety
3838 N Rural Street
Indianapolis, IN 46205
317-221-2222
www.mchd.com/fdp.htm
Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health
200 E Berry Street, Suite 360
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
260-449-7561
http://www.allencountyhealth.com/get-informed/environmental-health-hazards/consumer-alerts/
Evansville & Vanderburgh County Department of Health
Food Safety Program
420 Mulberry Street
Evansville, Indiana 47713-1231
812- 435-2400
www.evansville.in.gov/Index.aspx?page=623
Illinois Department of Public Health
535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, IL 62761
217-782-4977
www.idph.state.il.us
Report Foodborne Illness (Health Departments by County)
www.idph.state.il.us/local/alpha.htm
Illinois Department of Agriculture
Food Inspection
PO Box 19281, State Fairgrounds
Springfield, IL 62794-9281
217- 782-2172
www.agr.state.il.us/programs/consumer/foodinsp.html
Restaurant Inspections (Chicago)
webapps.cityofchicago.org/healthinspection.jsp
Report Foodborne Illness
Chicago: 312-747-3663 | @foodbornechi (Twitter)
Suburban Cook County: @foodsafecookco (Twitter)
Cook County Department of Public Health
Food Safety Resources
15900 S Cicero Avenue – Building E
Oak Forest, IL 60452
708-633-4000
http://cookcountypublichealth.org/services/food-safety
Kane County Health Department
Environmental Health
1240 N Highland Avenue
Aurora, IL 60506
Or
1750 Grandstand Place
Elgin, IL 60123
630-444-3040
kanehealth.com/food_safety.htm
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Food Protection Program
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720
208-334-6996
www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/FoodProtection/tabid/96/Default.aspx
Questions/To Request Informational CD
208-334-5938
Idaho Health Districts (Reporting Illness, Restaurant Inspections, and More)
www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/HealthDistricts/tabid/97/Default.aspx
Idaho Department of Agriculture
Food Safety Program
2270 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, Idaho 83712
208-332-8500
www.agri.idaho.gov/Categories/InspectionsExams/FoodSafety/indexfoodSafetyHome.php
Boise Area Food Establishment Inspection Records
secure.cdhd.idaho.gov/cdhpublic/LicenseBrowser.aspx
Hawaii Department of Health
591 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-586-8012
health.hawaii.gov/food-drug/for-consumers/
http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/ag-resources/food-safety-on-farm/
Reporting Foodborne Illness (District Health Offices)
Oahu 808-586-4586
Maui 808-984-8213
Kauai 808-241-3563
Hilo 808-933-0912
Kona 808-322-4877
808-566-5049 (after hours)
800-360-2575 (toll free)
Hawaii Food Education
www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/NEW/index.html
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
hdoa.hawaii.gov/agricultural-resources/
Georgia Department of Health
Office of Environmental Health
2 Peachtree Street NW, 13 Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-657-6534
dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health
Environmental Health Inspections
dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health-inspections
Digital Health Department
http://www.garrisonenterprises.com/
Fulton County Health & Wellness (Atlanta)
141 Pryor Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-612-4000
fultoncountyga.gov/dhw-home
Restaurant Inspections
fultoncountyga.gov/dhw-restaurant-inspections
Richmond County Health Department (Augusta)
950 Laney-Walker Boulevard
Augusta, Georgia 30901
706-721-5900
www.ecphd.com/common/content.asp?PAGE=661
Columbus Department of Public Health
Office of Environmental Health
2100 Comer Avenue
Columbus, GA 31904
888-810-4316 toll free
www.columbushealth.com/chd/columbusHealth/index.cfm/community/environmental-health/
Emergency/After Hours
1-800-PUB-HLTH (782-4584)
Florida Department of Health
Food and Waterborne Disease Program
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A08
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-245-4401
doh.state.fl.us/environment/medicine/foodsurveillance/FoodandWaterborneDiseaseProgramFinalIndexPage.html
On Facebook
www.facebook.com/FLDepartmentofHealth
Reporting a Problem with Food in Florida
doh.state.fl.us/environment/medicine/foodsurveillance/HowtoReportaProblemwithFoodinFlorida.htm
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Food Safety
3125 Conner Boulevard, Suite D
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
850-245-5595
University of Florida Food Safety and Quality
fycs.ifas.ufl.edu/foodsafety/
Florida Restaurant Inspections (All Counties)
www.ledgerdata.com/restaurant-inspections/alachua/
Hillsborough County Department of Health (Tampa)
1105 E Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33602
813-307-8000
www.hillscountyhealth.org/
Dade County Department of Health (Miami)
Miami-Dade Service Sites
http://miamidade.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/clinical-and-nutrition-services/service-sites.htm
Contact 24/7
305-324-2400
www.dadehealth.org
Duval County Department of Health (Jacksonville)
900 University Boulevard, N
Jacksonville, FL 32211
904-253-1000
www.dchd.net/our-programs/epidemiology
Delaware Department of Health
Office of Food Protection
417 Federal Street
Dover, DE 19901
302-744-4546
www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/ofp.html
Food Establishment Inspection Reports
dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/Default.aspx
Colorado Department of Public Health
Division of Environmental Health
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South B-2
Denver, Colorado 80246=
303-692-3645
www.cdphe.state.co.us/cp/
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Fruit and Vegetable Section
PO Box 407
Monte Vista, CO 81144
719-852-4749
Reporting Foodborne Illness by County
www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDPHE-Main/CBON/1251588365684
Colorado Inspection & Consumer Services
www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/ag_ICS/CBON/1251599400393
Food Safety (Statewide)
www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/ag_Main/CBON/1251634013356
Tri-County (Denver area) Health Department
6162 South Willow Drive, Suite 100
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
303-220-9200
http://www.tchd.org/246/Restaurants-Grocery
http://www.tchd.org/171/Infectious-Diseases
Denver Restaurant Health Inspection Reports
www.denvergov.org/eh/tabid/435231
Denver Foodborne Illness Investigations
www.denvergov.org/?TabId=391974
El Paso County (Colorado Springs) Food Safety
www.elpasocountyhealth.org/service/food-safety
California Department of Public Health
Food and Drug Branch
1500 Capitol Avenue, MS 7602
Sacramento, CA 95899
916- 650-6500
www.cdph.ca.gov/programs (Follow link to Food, Drug, and Radiation Safety)
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Inspection Services Division
1220 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-900-5020
inspection_services@cdfa.ca.gov
Consumer Complaints (Statewide)
800-495-3232
Restaurant Inspections by County
www.ca.gov/OnlineServices/OS_Consumers_inspections.html
Los Angeles Area Food Illness Report
https://www.visualcmr.net/webvcmr/pages/public/pub_FBI_Report.aspx
Los Angeles Area Restaurant/Market Ratings
publichealth.lacounty.gov/rating/
San Diego Food Complaints
http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/deh/fhd/food/foodcomplaints.html
San Diego Foodborne Epidemiology
http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/deh/fhd/food/foodborneepidemiology.html
Santa Clara County Food Facility Inspections
sccinspections.org/onlineinsp/
San Francisco Restaurant Safety Scores
www.sfdph.org/dph/EH/Food/score/default.asp
San Francisco Food Safety
www.sfdph.org/dph/EH/Food/default.asp
Arizona Department of Health Services
www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/food-safety-environmental-services/index.php
Office of Food Safety and Environmental Health
150 N 18th Avenue, #140
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-364-3118
Maricopa County Department of Public Health
4041 N Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85012
602-506-6900
www.maricopa.gov/publichealth/
Maricopa County Food Safety Inspections
www.azcentral.com/HealthInspectionMaps
Pima County Health Department
webcms.pima.gov/government/health_department
Pima County Consumer Health & Food Safety Administration
webcms.pima.gov/health/food-safety/
Pima County Restaurant Ratings
www.pima.gov/restaurantratings/
State of Alaska Food Safety and Sanitation Program
555 Cordova Street, 5th Floor
Anchorage, AK 99501
907- 269-7501 / 877-233-3663 (87 Safe Food – toll free)
www.dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/index.htm
Food Safety & Sanitation by Location
www.dec.state.ak.us/eh/fss/Food/sanstaff.htm
Food Safety Inspections (Statewide)
www.dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/Food/food_inspections.htm
Making a Complaint (Food and Sanitation)
http://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/Food/Complaints.html
Food Safety for Consumers
dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/consumers/consumers.html
Foodborne & Waterborne Disease Information
www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/id/dod/foodwater/default.htm
Anchorage Area Food Safety Inspections
hhs.muni.org/fss/
Alabama Department of Public Health
201 Monroe Street, Suite 1250
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-206-5300 / 800-ALA-1818
www.adph.org
Division of Food, Milk, and Lodging
www.adph.org/foodsafety/
Food Establishment Scores
www.adph.org/foodscores
County Health Departments in Alabama
www.adph.org/administration/Default.asp?id=505
Jefferson County Department of Health
1400 Sixth Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233
205-933-9110
www.jcdh.org
Mobile County Health Department
251 North Bayou Street
Mobile, AL 36603
251-690-8158
www.mobilecountyhealth.org
Mobile County Department of Food & Lodging
251-690-8116